Saturday, October 30, 2010

At Hjelme West couple of Red-throated Diver smålom, 40+ Common Scoter svartand, a Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt, a White-tailed Eagle havørn and a few Long-tailed Duck havelle were all that was to be seen birdwise. At least three Otters fed here.

At Hjelme a Water Rail vannrikse gave brief views and an adult White-tailed Eagle havørn flew over. A small falcon remained unidentified.

Friday, October 29, 2010

One of three White-tailed Eagle havørn seen at Herdlevær - this one with a fish

Still large (record?) numbers of Waxwing sidensvans about with flocks "everywhere". This is the peak time to see this species in Øygarden but normally it is migrating birds that are seen. This year the flocks have stopped to feed on whatever berries they can find - often juniper. Today they were also feeding on insects. Today 150 were at Oen and 300 at Tjeldstø.

At Herldevær the best sightings were a Red-throated Diver smålom on the sea, a Lapwing vipe and two Black-headed Gulls hettemåke.

The Barncale Goose hvitkinngås remains with Greylags grågås at Breivik.

The wet weather has meant that Mallard stokkand numbers are high at Tjeldstø with approximately 90 birds present. Good numbers of Common Snipe enkeltbekkasin and Fieldfare gråtrost too.

Tufted duck toppand. Left hand bird showing much white on the face but not over the top of the bill

Inside working all day but managed a very brief stroll out as the light was fading. Rather frustrating as large flocks of thrushes etc were passing throughout the day.

A flock of six Tufted Duck toppand on Rotevatnet and the female Common Scoter svartand on Husvatnet were the only sightings of interest. One of Tufted Duck toppand, probably a first year female, looked rather like a Scaup bergand but closer views revealled the hint of a tuft on the back of the head and the upperparts were rather too dark for this species.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Bird of the day in an Øygarden context - one of three Treecreeper trekryper seen todaySparrowhawks spurvehauk

Small part of a Fieldfare gråtrost flock

Waxwing sidensvans are everywhere at the moment

Dashed out for a short seawatch which was produced relatively few birds - highlights being two Great Northern Diver islom heading north. Small numbers of Long-tailed Duck havelle, Velvet Scoter sjøorre and Common Scoter svartand on the move.

It was the walk out that was the most productive with a few small flocks of Waxwing sidensvans, a few large flocks of Fieldfare gråtrost totalling approximately 1000 birds - several hundred of which were feeding and resting in the heather. Other notable sightings included my first Treecreeper trekryper in Øygarden this year, a Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett, a Jay nøtteskrike, a Lapland Bunting lappspurv, several Bullfinch dompap and at least four Sparrowhawk spurvehauk. Also plenty of Brambling bjørkefink and Mealy Redpoll gråsisik about.

At Herdlevær good numbers of Great Tit kjøttmeis and Blue Tit blåmeis were passing through. A couple more Treecreepers trekryper, a Chiff-chaff gransanger and a Blackcap munk were also present here.

Back home whilst changing over to winter tyres a flock of 15 Waxwing sidensvans landed briefly in the garden and a Lapland Bunting lappspurv flew over.

Friday, October 15, 2010

One of 12 Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt seen at "Hjelme West" on the way home

Part of a large flock of Redpoll brunsisik

Waxwings sidensvans

LOADS of birds today with plenty to see except the hoped for rarity. At least 200 Redpoll brunsisik several of which were Mealy Redpoll gråsisik and one with a very white rump. Extremely restless these birds never settled for long. A minimum of around 30 Waxwing sidensvans, a Ring Ousel ringtrost, a Water Rail vannrikse, a Bullfinch dompap, Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett were the best of the sightings.A few Chiff-chaffgransanger, a Blackcap munk, Sparrowhawk spurvehauk, three White-tailed Eagle havørn, migrating Skylark sanglerke and Reed Bunting sivspurv were among the other species noted. Typically foe such weather conditions there were good numbers of Blue tit blåmeis moving through with smaller numbers of Coal tit svartmeis. Plenty of Wrens gjerdesmett passing through - a relief to see that some have survived the previous winter.